Story By: Christina O Connor | Photos by: Nathalie Walker

That may be because it was a trip to Italy that inspired the restaurant in the first place. As Il Lupino founder Wolfgang Zwiener traveled throughout Europe as a young man, he discovered a passion for Italian food. He went on to have a prolific career as a restaurateur, launching a string of eateries throughout the country. And in 2010, he achieved his lifelong dream of running an Italian restaurant by opening Il Lupino. The eatery is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and also offers a salumeria stocked with Italian meats and cheeses.

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Il Lupino features speciality items that directly come from Italy. But the restaurant also prides itself on utilizing fresh, local ingredients — which are on display in items like appetizer Bruschetta Siciliana ($13). It showcases grilled eggplant, Big Island heirloom tomatoes, basil, and is topped with extra virgin olive oil and ricotta.

Il Lupino also serves handmade pastas, as you can find in dishes including Spaghetti Ai Frutti Di Mare ($25), which has a range of seafood — clams, scallops and lobster — in a white wine tomato sauce.